Tustin football coach Myron Miller will utilize a new offense for the Tillers this season.
Tustin High’s football team will again be led by long-time head coach Myron Miller, but the double-wing offense it has successfully employed over the years will be shelved for a pro-style offensive attack.
That is right: no more double-wing, a run-oriented offense which has produced tons of wins for the program.
Miller revealed the changes during the recent Frostee Rucker Camp with the NFL player and said he will continue as head coach, but will be the defensive coordinator.
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Sam Baker will be the offensive line coach and Anthony Lopez will be the offensive coordinator, said Athletic Director Thomas Giebe.
“It’s going to change a little bit and be a bit more balanced and throw the ball a little more,” Giebe said. “It’s always a transition but we’re looking forward to it.
“Myron is taking his talents to the defensive side of the ball which he’s always kind of helped out anyway, but he’s taking it over as the coordinator and head coach. It’s good, all the guys are on campus every single day. We have 10 coaches who are working with the varsity and JV kids every day and it’s working out well.”
Miller, 75, seems to be fine with the change and believes it will help his program.
“I’m not running the offense, I’m running the defense and special teams and managing the game like a head coach does,” he said. “Not one percent of the offense has anything to do with me.
“We’re definitely going to pass more; it’s a pro-style offense, we’ve got receivers. There will be no part of the double wing here anymore. We will probably be a little run heavy (this season) but it will be out of a modern formation, a lot of it out of the shotgun and a complete turnover to the new stuff and we’re hoping that attracts kids here. I’m at the other side of the ball.
“It’s really been a great challenge to go to the other side of the ball and have to organize and put in a solid defense for us.”
Miller has heard the pleas from other coaches and players to make the change.
“It’s not what you see on TV, it’s not what you see in the pros,” he said. “Could we win with it? Yeah. I could win with it. But it was getting harder and harder to attract talent. It’s something that had to be done. The kids today want to do it. They see the kids in other high schools and the colleges and pros (running it). For me to stay stubborn and just run my four plays, we were getting a smaller and smaller pool of football players.”
Miller said he has total trust in the Baker and Lopez, who he describes as “spectacular coaches.”
Rucker, one of his former players, applauds the decision.
“It’s about time,” said Rucker, now with the Oakland Raiders. “That Wing-T did a lot for us and gave us a lot of structure and physically it allowed us to be dominating. But in this day and age, the kids want what they see on TV. They want to be a receiver and they want to catch long balls and go up the middle.”
Miller insists he is still enjoying coaching and is looking forward to the season.
“It’s my 52nd year, it’s never been a job to me,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer I can do it. I’m going to do it as long as I can. I can see myself going to 80. When I’m in the way, I’ll get out of the way. I’m looking at not being the head coach too much further down the line. I retired from teaching, but I would love to be defensive coordinator or special teams (coach). As long as no one is carrying me and I’m doing my job, and I feel I’m valuable, I’ll coach.”
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